Home Care Instructions For Complete & Partial Dentures

DO NOT MAKE ADJUSTMENTS OR REPAIRS YOURSELF

The initial few weeks of denture wearing can sometimes be challenging as you adjust to them. Initially, you may experience some difficulty with chewing and speech until you get used to them. You may also need some adhesive to help hold them in place better. You may want to experiment with the different brands or amounts of adhesive to see which works best for you. To remove your dentures, you may try various finger positions to dislodge them. You can try pulling only the left or right side of the denture. To remove the upper denture, you can try placing your thumb against the front teeth and pressing upward toward your nose. To remove the lower denture, slowly pull on the denture while applying a rocking motion. Partial dentures may be removed by engaging the acrylic with your nails and gently rocking them out. Soon you will be able to place and remove your denture without even thinking about it as it will eventually become second nature to you.

The material that your dentures/partial’s are made from has microscopic holes that can collect food debris andor bacteria. Dentures can become unhygienic because they are in your mouth on a daily basis and sometimes worn 24/hour/day. To help minimize this and prolong the life of your dentures, it is essential that you:

Rinse your mouth and your dentures/partials after each meal to decrease irritation from food debris.

Remove your dentures/partials when you rinse with mouthwash.

Clean your denture/partials thoroughly twice a day with a soft nylon denture brush (this came with your denture kit) and a non-abrasive denture cleanser. This will remove plaque buildup and help reduce staining, bad breath, and irritation. Use denture creams as regular toothpaste is too abrasive for denture care.

You may soak your dentures/partials in warm water or a denture cleaner until tarter can be brushed or washed away.

If you wear a partial denture make sure to clean the area around the clasps, as trapped food particles and bacteria may cause the abutment teeth to be more susceptible to decay.

Don’t use alcohol, abrasive cleaners, bleaches, whiteners, mouth washes, etc. as they may breakdown or scratch the surface of the denture. Harsh products like bleach will turn the pink parts of your denture white.

Do not use boiling water, the dishwasher, or the microwave to clean or soak your dentures because it will warp them.

Dentures are fragile, so it is important to handle with care.

Do not wear your dentures/partials at night. The gum tissue needs to rest and allow for normal stimulation and cleansing by the tongue and saliva in order to promote better long term health of your gums.

Massage your gums in the morning and evening with a thumb or finger to stimulate them and keep them firm.

You may leave the dentures/partials out whenever you like as long as you are able to keep them wet or moist. After cleaning them, wrap them in a wet paper towel, or store them in your denture case with a little water. Do not let them dry out.

You may bleach your denture brush in a mix of 50% water/50% bleach solution once a week to clean it.

To help inhibit fungal growth, you may soak your complete dentures in 50% vinegar/50% water solution or you may also place a small amount of Aloe Vera gel into your denture once a day. It does not taste all that great, but Aloe Vera is a pretty good antifungal. Do not place partials or dentures with soft liners in this solution as it will corrode/destroy the metal parts and soft lining material.

Keep your appliances away from curious small children or pets.

We offer Smile Again Concentrated Denture Cleaner for all your removable appliance needs.

When you first notice any signs of discomfort, contact us at once. Please do not adjust your dentures/partials yourself as this may damage the appliance or the teeth holding the appliance in.

Immediate dentures will need to be evaluated on a more regular basis initially and may need to be re-lined several times as the gum tissue heals after tooth extractions. Please be sure to keep all your follow-up appointments.

It is recommended that you keep your regular periodic exams in order for us to examine your gum tissues for signs of disease, irritation, or cancer. Please also bring your dentures/partials with you to every appointment. As you age, your mouth will continue to change as the bone and gums under the denture shrinks or recedes and wears away. Loose dentures make it harder to eat and speak and do not support the face as well. Your dentures/partials may need to be adjusted or relined after some time to compensate for this. Also, a new denture/partial should be made about every 7-10 years or when they no longer fit well or cannot be used comfortably.